Rural delivery mail box

ABSTRACT

This rural delivery mail box comprises an upper compartment closed by a front, upwardly and forwardly swinging hinged door, to contain letters, and a shelf therebelow to receive newspapers and magazines. The shelf is open at both ends and has a through passage at one side. A flag is so mounted at one side of the mail box that it can be easily moved to and maintained in vertical position or in flipped back horizontal position.

United States Patent Klein 1 1 Dec. 19, 1972 [541 RURAL DELIVERY MAIL BOX [72] Inventor: Milton Klein, 610 Overhill Road,

South Orange, NJ. 07079 [22] Filed: Dec. 28, 1970 [21] Appl; No.: 101,586

[52] US. Cl ..232/17, 232/33 [51] Int. Cl. ..A47g 29/12 [58] Field of Search ..232/1 R, l C, 17, 33, 34, 19, 232/24, 38

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,243,104 3/1966 Fillion ..232/33 667,346 2/1901 Sleezer... I ....232/34 3,516,600 6/1970 Andis..... ...232/17 1,480,452 l/l924 Kolstad... 232/34 X 729,110 Young ..232/34 3,106,335 10/1963 Allan ..232/17 3,502,261 3/1970 Solis ..232/33 464,932 12/1891 Stoner ..232/24 2,156,854 5/1939 Hurst r ..232/7 2,552,915 5/1957 Zachrich .232/39 X 2,860,830 11/1958 Mrenza 232/17 Primary Examiner-Francis K. Zugel Attorney-J. B. Felshin ABSTRACT This rural delivery mail box comprises an upper compartment closed by a front, upwardly and forwardly swinging hinged door, ,to contain letters, and a shelf therebelow to receive newspapers and magazines. The shelf is open at both ends and has a through passage at one side. A flag is so mounted at one side of the mail box that it can be easily moved to and maintained in vertical position or in flipped back horizontal position.

7 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTED nEc 19 1912 saw 1 [IF 2 OFIGOQO INVENTOR. Mara/v ,(4

g/ nrmawsr RURAL DELIVERY MAIL BOX This invention relates to rural delivery mailboxes.

An object of this invention is to provide a mail box of the character described which shall have an upper compartment for letters, closed by a front upwardly and forwardly swinging door, and a lower shelf below said compartment, which shelf is open front and rear, for reception of newspapers and magazines, said shelf having an upstanding flange at one side terminating below said compartment, to facilitate removing the newspapers and magazines from said shelf.

Another object of this invention is to provide amail box of the character described comprising an outer casing having a top wall and side walls, an inner member having a rear compartment wall, attached to the outer casing, a bottom wall for the upper compartment formed with downwardly extending flanges at its sides and rear received in upwardly opening grooves at the insides of the side walls of the outer casing and at the lower end of the rear wall.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide in a mail box of the character described, a flag and improved means to move said flag from vertical to horizontal positions and to maintain said flag selectively in said positions.

A further object of this invention is to provide a strong, rugged and streamlined mail box of the character described which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, which shall comprise few and simple parts which are easily assembled, and which shall yet be attractive in appearance and practical and efficient to a high degree.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope ofinvention will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown various illustrative embodiments of this invention,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mail box embodying the invention and showing the front door of the letter compartment, closed, and the flag in vertical position;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a vertical view of the left side of the box;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 ofFlG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on'line 9-9 of FIG. 6.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, 10 designates a rural mail delivery box embodying the invention. Said box l0 comprises an outer casing 11 having a top elongated rectangular wall 12. Wall 12 has a front edge 12 and a rear edge 12'. Extending downwardly from the left side of top wall 12 is a side wall 13 coextensive with disposed directly below top wall 12, in registry therewith. Extending downwardly from the right side of top wall 12 is a right side wall 16 coextensive with the top wall. At the lower end of wall 16 is a central inwardly and upwardly bent back or upturned portion 16, the ends of which are spaced from the ends of wall 16. Portion. 16 is at a level below half the distance from the top wall to the bottom wall. Portion 16' forms an upwardly opening groove 16. Extending upwardly from the right side of bottom wall is a flange 18 coextensive with said bottom wall and terminating in a horizontal edge 18 spaced well below bent back portion 16.

Assembled with said outer casing 11 is an inner casing member 20 having a top wall 21 lying against the underside of wall 12. The rear end of wall 21 is spaced said top wall. Extending from the lower end of side wall 13 is a bottom wall 15 coextensive therewith and from the rear end of casing 11. Extending down from said rear end is a vertical wall 22 which constitutes the rear wall of an upper letter compartment 24 to be described in detail hereinafter. The'side edges of wall 22 and the side edges of wall 21 are substantially at the inner surfaces of walls. 13, 16. At the lower end of wall 22 is an inwardly and upwardly bent portion 25 forming an upwardly opening groove 26. The lower bend of said portion 25 is at the level of said bent back portion 16".

The top wall 21 of member 20 has a shallow downward bend 30 in spaced relation to front edge 12. Extending forwardly beyond the bend 30 is a horizontal wall portion 31 having a front end edge 32 also spaced from front edge 12. a

A groove member 33 has a top wall 34 welded to the underside of wall 12. Extending from the front end of wall 34 is a bent back portion 35 forming a narrow horizontal groove receiving the wall portion 31.

A pair of vertical corner angle shaped members 40 serve to rigidify the corners formed between wall 20 and walls 13 and 16. Each member 40 has a flange 41 riveted by rivets 42,to wall 22,'and a flange 43. One flange 43 is welded to wall 16 and the other is welded to wall 13. The upper ends of angle members 40 are at the underside of wall 21. The lower ends of said angle members 40 are at a level spaced somewhat above the level of bent back portion 25. 1 7

Attached to the inside of left side wall 13 is a grooved member 50 having a flange 51 welded to said left side wall. Bent upwardly and inwardly from flange 51 is a flange 52 forming an upwardly opening groove 53. Bent back portion 52 is at the level of bent back portions 25, 16. Mounted on said bent back portions 16, 25, 52, is a bottom member 55 for said compartment 24. Said member 55 comprises a bottom wall 56 having a central longitudinally corrugated portion 57, side flat horizontal portions 58 and end flat horizontal portions 59. Wall 56 rests on the upper edges of bent back portions 16, 25, 52. Extending down from the rear end of wall 56 is a flange 60 received in groove 26. Extending down from the left side of wall 56 is a flange 61 received in groove 53. Extending down from the right side of wall 56 is a flange 62 received in the groove 16..

Thus, wall 56 is reinforced by the corrugations and is supported at two sides and at the rear end.

Member 50 extends from the front edges of flanges 43 of angle member 40 to just back of a vertical plane passing down through bend 30 of wall 21. The front end of member 50 is aligned with the front end of bent back portion 16.

oson 003.6

To hold the bottom member 55, down, there is welded to the front end of flange 51 of member 50, a

vertical flange 65 of a horizontally extending angle The front end of compartment 24 is closed by a door.

75. Means is provided to hinge the upper end of said door to the underside of wall 21. To this end there is weldedto the underside of wall 21, just rearwardly of bend 30, a hinge plate 80 having a plurality of hinge sleeves 81 carrying a hinge pin 82. Hinged to pin 81 is a second hinge plate 83 having sleeves 84 alternating with sleeves 81, and through which said hinge pin 82, passes. Plate 83 is attached to the upper end of door 75 by rivets 85. The lower end of door 75 is bent back and up at 86 and contacts the front of bottom member 55,

. to retain said door in vertical closed condition. The

users fingers can grasp beneath the bent back portion 86 to swing the door up to open compartment 24. The door will drop down by gravity to close the compartment.

There is provided a flag 90 to indicate whether there is mail in the box. Said flag 90 comprises a flag staff or bar 91 having a lower end 92 in a vertical plane close to the left side wall 13. Extending upwardly from lower end 92 is an outwardly sloping portion 93 from which a portion 94 extends up in a vertical plane spaced outwardly of the plane of said lower end 92. Said lower end 92 of bar 91 has a slot 95 which inclines upwardly and rearwardly when the bar 91 is in vertical position.

Said lower end 91 also has an upwardly and rearwardly inclined rear edge 96.

To control said bar, there is provided a bracket 100 having vertical wings 101, 102 contacting wall 13 and riveted thereto by rivet 101, 102. Extending outwardly from the inner ends of flangesor wings 101, 102

at right angles thereto are webs 103. 104 which are inter connected by a vertical wall 105 parallel to and spaced from wall 13. The lower ends of wings 101, 102, 103, 104 and wall 105 are flush in one horizontal plane. Wing 102 does not rise as high as wing 101. The upper edges of wing 101, webs 103, 104 and wall 105, are in one horizontal plane. Extending out from the upper end of wing 102 is a shelf or shoulder 106.

Wall 105 and wall 13 are formed with horizontally v aligned openings to carry a fixed pin or rivet 107 which crosses the slot 95 and is disposed at the upper end of said slot when the flag is up.

A flag member 108 is fixed to the upper end of the ,bar and projects rearwardly when the bar is up.

placed on the bottom wall'l5, from where they can be easily seen and easily removed due to the fact that the lower shelf is open from front to rear and at its right side. The door is easy to open and is self-closing.

The box is streamlined and attractive in appearance. Due to the grooved receiving flanges, the assembly is easy. The reinforcing angles made the box rigid. The outer casing 11, the inner casing member 20, member 50, the door and member 55 may all be made of galvanized sheet steel.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

- As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative.

Iclaim;

1 1. A rural mail delivery box comprising a top letter compartment having fixed top wall, a bottom wall, side walls and a rear wall, a front door contacting the front end of said bottom wall to close said compartment, means to mount said door for swinging upwardly and forwardly about its upper end, to open said compartment, a shelf disposed below said compartment, said shelf being open at its front and rear ends for reception of newspapers and magazines, said shelf comprising a bottom wall spaced below said bottom wall of said compartment, and being integrally formed with and extending from one side wall of said compartment, and a flange extending up from the other side of the bottom wall of said shelf and terminating short of said bottom wall of said compartment, to form said open side of said shelf, said top wall and side walls, and shelf comprising a single member.

2. The combination of claim 1, means to form upwardly opening grooves at the insides of said rear wall and said side walls, and said bottom wall of said compartment having downwardly extending flanges at its sides and rear end, received in said grooves respectively.

3. A rural mail delivery box comprising a top letter compartment having flxed top wall, a bottom wall, side walls and a rear wall, a front door contacting the front end of said bottom wall to close said compartment, means to mount said door for swinging upwardly and forwardly about its upper end, to open said compartment, a shelf disposed below said compartment, said shelf being open, at its front and rear ends for reception of newspapers and magazines, a top wall extending forwardly from the upper end of said rear wall and lying against and reinforcing the underside of said top wall of said compartment, and means to hinge the upper end of said door to the underside of said forwardly extending top wall.

4. A rural mail delivery box comprising a top letter compartment having fixed top wall, a bottom wall, side walls and a rear wall, a front door contacting the front end of said bottom wall to close said compartment, means to mount said door for swinging upwardly and forwardly about its upper end, to open said compartment, a shelf disposed below said compartment, said lO60ll 0037 shelf being open at its front and rear ends for reception of newspapers and magazines, said top wall, side walls of the compartment, and the said shelf constituting a single unitary outer casing, said shelf comprising a bottom wall spaced below said bottom wall of said compartment, said bottom wall of said shelf extending from one side wall of said casing, and a flange extending up from the other side of said shelf bottom wall and having an upper edge spaced below the other side wall of said casing forming a permanent opening.

5. A rural mail delivery box comprising a top letter compartment having fixed top wall, a bottom wall, side walls and a rear wall, a front door contacting the front end of said bottom wall to close said compartment, means to mount said door for swinging upwardly and forwardly about its upper end, to open said compart-. ment, a shelf disposed below said compartment, said shelf being open at its front and rear ends for reception of newspapers and magazines, said top wall, side walls of the compartment, and the said shelf constituting a I single member, said shelf comprising a bottom wall spaced below said bottom wall of said compartment, said bottom wall of said shelf extending from one side wall of said casing, and a flange extending up from the other side of said shelf bottom wall and having an upper edge spaced below the other side wall of said casing forming a permanent opening, said rear wall having a forwardly extending integral top wall lying against the underside of the top wall of the casing, said door being hinged at its upper end to said forwardly extending top wall.

6. The combination of claim 5, means at the inner sides of said side walls and rear walls to form upwardly, opening grooves, and said bottom wall of said compartment having flanges received in said grooves formed at said side walls and rear wall.

7. The combination of claim 6, and means fixed to said side walls to hold said bottom wall of said compartment on said groove forming means. 

1. A rural mail delivery box comprising a top letter compartment having fixed top wall, a bottom wall, side walls and a rear wall, a front door contacting the front end of said bottom wall to close said compartment, means to mount said door for swinging upwardly and forwardly about its upper end, to open said compartment, a shelf disposed below said compartment, said shelf being open at its front and rear ends for reception of newspapers and magazines, said shelf comprising a bottom wall spaced below said bottom wall of said compartment, and being integrally formed with and extending from one side wall of said compartment, and a flange extending up from the other side of the bottom wall of said shelf and terminating short of said bottom wall of said compartment, to form said open side of said shelf, said top wall and side walls, and shelf comprising a single member.
 2. The combination of claim 1, means to form upwardly opening grooves at the insides of said rear wall and said side walls, and said bottom wall of said compartment having downwardly extending flanges at its sides and rear end, received in said grooves respectively.
 3. A rural mail delivery box comprising a top letter compartment having fixed top wall, a bottom wall, side walls and a rear wall, a front door contacting the front end of said bottom wall to close said compartment, means to mount said door for swinging upwardly and forwardly about its upper end, to open said compartment, a shelf disposed below said compartment, said shelf being open at its front and rear ends for reception of newspapers and magazines, a top wall extending forwardly from the upper end of said rear wall and lying against and reinforcing the underside of said top wall of said compartment, and means to hinge the upper end of said door to the underside of said forwardly extending top wall.
 4. A rural mail delivery box comprising a top letter compartment having fixed top wall, a bottom wall, side walls and a rear wall, a front door contacting the front end of said bottom wall to close said compartment, means to mount said door for swinging upwardly and forwardly about its upper end, to open said compartment, a shelf disposed below said compartment, said shelf being open at its front and rear ends for reception of newspapers and magazines, said top wall, side walls of the compartment, and the said shelf constituting a single unitary outer casing, said shelf comprising a bottom wall spaced below said bottom wall of said compartment, said bottom wall of said shelf extending from one side wall of said casing, and a flange extending up from the other side of said shelf bottom wall and having an upper edge spaced below the other side wall of said casing forming a permanent opening.
 5. A rural mail delivery box comprising a top letter compartment having fixed top wall, a bottom wall, side walls and a rear wall, a front door contacting the front end of said bottom wall to close said compartment, means to mount said door for swinging upwardly and forwardly about its upper end, to open said compartment, a shelf disposed below said compartment, said shelf being open at its front and rear ends for reception of newspapers and magazines, said top wall, side walls of the compartment, and the said shelf constituting a single member, said shelf comprising a bottom wall spaced below said bottom wall of said compartment, said bottom wall of said shelf extending from one side wall of said casing, and a flange extending up from the other side of said shelf bottom wall and having an upper edge spaced below the other side wall of said casing forming a permanent opening, said rear wall having a forwardly extending integral top wall lying against the underside of the top wall of the casing, said door being hinGed at its upper end to said forwardly extending top wall.
 6. The combination of claim 5, means at the inner sides of said side walls and rear walls to form upwardly, opening grooves, and said bottom wall of said compartment having flanges received in said grooves formed at said side walls and rear wall.
 7. The combination of claim 6, and means fixed to said side walls to hold said bottom wall of said compartment on said groove forming means. 